Bail bar raised

By Emma Sun
REPEAT youth offenders will now have higher bail conditions, with the launch of Victoria Police’s Youth Bail Engagement Program in Casey on Wednesday.
Youths between the ages of 10 and 18 who commit offences such as burglary, criminal damage, street violence and robbery will receive high-level bail conditions to reduce repeat offending.
The program has already been established in the City of Kingston and City of Glen Eira for more than a year, with significantly improved results.
It was officially launched for the Southern Metropolitan Region by Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius, who praised its success in addressing youth issues and bringing down youth re-offending.
“Nearly half of all offenders processed in Victoria are young people between the ages of 10 and 25,” he said.
“This program is designed to hold these young people to account and put them on a pathway to changing their behaviour.
“Kids got the message that if they didn’t change their ways, they will continue to get friendly visits from the police and have their liberties reduced in order to prevent them from committing offences.”
Bail conditions for each youth vary to ensure it is in the best interest of the child and their circumstances.
It can include night time curfews, not associating with co-offenders, not being allowed to go to certain places unless with a parent and attending school.
Those who breach a bail condition will be arrested and taken to court within 48 hours of a breach.
Moorabbin police Sergeant Michael White said the program focuses on breaking the cycle of offending.
“What we found was that a tiny portion of kids are doing a disproportionate amount of damage,” he said.
“The program lowers chances of re-offending and reduces harm to the community, both financially and physically.
“While on the program, the kids are expected to abide by the bail conditions and those on the program have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
City of Casey councillor Judy Owen, who is also a Justice of the Peace, said it was wonderful to give the children a chance to get back on track.
“The results speak for themselves – the pilot program had a 30 per cent improvement rate, which is a very good figure,” she said.
“We have kids as young as 12 with alcohol problems, drug abuse and a lot of the community doesn’t realise the size of the problem, so anything that can get them back into normal life has to be good.”
The program will run in the Cities of Stonnington, Port Phillip, Frankston, Mornington Peninsula, Greater Dandenong and Cardinia.